The Hawaiian gazette., 1887-07-05
: AMERICAS NATAL DAY.
kGIOriOus Celebration in Honolulu.
A LARGE ATTENDANCE AT
LITTLE BRITAIN"
THE EXERCISES, ETc., ETC

has h0nored similar occasions in the past.
The weather was all that could be desired,
the sky being covered with sufficient cloud
to prevent old Sol having full sway, the
trades blowing gently, rendering the tempera-
ture both pleasant and cool.
The day was ushered in by a salute of thir-
teen guns at sunrise,-one for each OF the
original States,-from the shore battery.
Another salute of thirty-eight guns atnoon,-
one for each State now in the union; closing
with thirteen guns IN the evening.
The Hawaiian Band was IN attendance and
discoursed patriotic music during the day.
THE EXERCISES.
The exercises commenced with the open
ing PRAYER. by Rev. E. G. Beckwith OF San
Francisco, followed by few Introductory
remarks by His Ex. G. w. Merrill, American
Minister Resident. The choir then sang
America, with capital effect, Americas favor
lite song-"My Country tits of thee" After
which Mr.. Edmund G. Atkinson, in an i'm
pressive manner, read the Declaration of
Independence; after which the choir sang
The Star Spangled Banner.
The Orator of the day, Hon. Geo. Z. Whit
nsy, of California, was then introduced to
the large assemblage, and delivered the fol-
lowing
oRATIoN.
ADDRESS OF THE ORATOR OF THE DAY.
Two thousand miles from the shore which
bounds our native land Two thousand
ID les from the America Of our hearts
How fondly and proudly turn our thoughts
TO that beloved fatherland; and with the
fast-swelling flood of kindling emotions,
whose sources are the pure, deep fountains
whence our hottest and best impulses pro-
coed how completely checked and drowned
are all the bitterness and jealousy of parti-
zanship, and the small chickering's of personal
ambitious. To-day no Democratic mist
swells under the heat of party imagery into
the shape Of a devouring tiend, whose breath
even shall blight the industries of the toillng
masses. No Republican rascal Clues him
self 10 the public crib, and while favoring
the capitalist and monopolist, mercilessly
shifts their burdens upon the struggling con-
sumer. No MUgwump claims all the virtues
of one party and strives 10 beat out its
brains with the cudoelS Of the other. These,
win the civil service reformer, the prOhi-
bitiOaist. the EOn-oeleye- IN sumptUary laws,
all are fused into q common mass of red-hot
PATRIOTISM, as pyrotechnic and grand and as
Irresistible rs the lava flows OF Aauaa Loa.
To-day the symbol of our country, which
paints the sky on every hand, and toat5 as
proudly on the trade winds OF the Pacific as
on the land breeZss of the Mississippi, stands
as the representative Of the power of q
people not great with standing armies nor
nava4 sQUajrons, for IN these particulars His
Malesty - this island Kingdom Is compare
lively greater-but great IN those institutions
and sentiments which bind into one the
labor, the thought, the ceaselesS activities
and the large aims Of . united nation. The
farmer, the miner, the mechanic, the capital
ist, the professional man, the citizen of what
ever calling or no calling, and no less he
who dwells for q time IN foreign lands than
he who remains within his native borders,
all swell the majesty of sovereignty that
abides IN the breasts of a liberty-loving
people, and the influence of whose voice goes
out into all lands. At this distance from
home the perspective diminishes the import
anco OF individual thought and life. even of
the greatest, as we observe not single waves
when contemplating the vastness of, the
ocean.
Viewed from this point Of observation,
what elements OF strength, towering, as 1t
were, IN a series OF headlands, or mountain
peaks, oct of tae sea, S1ali we designate as
the most commanding and representative of
our country greatness It's noble expause,
from Atlantic 20 Pacific, from Behring'S
Straits ANA the great laEes 10 the Gulf, en-
braclug earth's bIJaCest valleys and three
grand mountain CHAINS, certainly III the de-
scription Of these the -el2rapher may reyel
III vastness and variety. Its productions of
food, OF metals, both useful AMI precious; Of
raw ana manufactured LaterlLls; us IN
eqCaied water and steam ways for the dis
trIbulol and interchange Of It's commerce,
can fully employ lie most exhaustive re-
searches Of the staGS-icIsu ana economist.
The vital energies evolved from more than
sixty millions Of beating, hearts ana tesDlng
bruins. and applied 10 The development OF
the physical resources of America, who shall
measure F. It's free schools. its seminarIes
and colleges. bringing the elements OF edUca-
ton within easy reach Ut the LuDbiest, and
the means of special auu profound research
within the power OF those whom nature and
~HFaHnf rrHr fr and
proud COMPARISON with the Oldest and most
favored nations. But It Is not these alone
that constitute lie pride and power Of our
beloved laLd. Great they are, and without
them she could not, within the brief space OF
her existence, nave attained her present col
lCssal stature. The acquisition and pos
session OF bOuECless wealth ana Of re
sources for its multiplication, cannot confer
that coveted place II the minds and hearts
of men, which alone constitutes enduring
and true greatness. In fact, the history OF
the world shows that they rather tend t. cor
rUpton, weakness and dlsgTaces While they
may smooth the highway and increase the
opportunities Of their possessor. they alone
are not glory, nor yet necessary ingredient
thereof.
We have not yet mentioned the patriotic
pride and satisfaction which springs from
the marshalIng Of staunch columns, drilled
IL all the precision Of military ART, and
GtaAlA4HE4 Will EfE41 AEflLC ~ A44LAE--
Imagination, kiudIe enthusiasm, ana strike
msrror The shouts of soidlery. answered
fEsck from armored ships, and all directed
b. the mastery of single vill-surely this
Is greatness, this Is glory.
Although but recently we, in common with
our fellow countrynen paid our annual tri-
butte Of respect and acknowledged our debt of
gratitude TO the brave men who within the
present generation endured the shock OF bat
tie aud the test OF the march, The watch and
the assault, that our flag might eys- float as
the ensign of a united people. it Is not Unbe-
hitting that We should again, IN or hours of
jubilation, speak their worth and praise.
Nor of those alone let our words recall the
glory. There are others who planted the
germs If our institutions IL a savage wilder
ness, whose advance landed at Plymouth.
and Who with stacked and loaded arms under
eyes OF vigilant sentinals, asked the blessing
Of heaven upon their work and their sacrif-
Gees. After i've generations of discipline and
preparation, when the spirit of the fore
fathers had become the life and fiber of the
people, they called the world and God to
witness that the United States of America
were and of right ought to be, free and in
dependent; and to support this declaration